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UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 

Agricultural  Experiment  Station. 


URBANA,  MARCH,   1901. 


BULLETIN  No.  63. 


SEED  CORN  AND  SOME  STANDARD  VARIETIES 

FOR  ILLINOIS. 


BY  ARCHIBALD   D.  SHAMEL,  INSTRUCTOR  IN  FARM  CROPS,  COLLEGE  OF 
AGRICULTURE  AND  SPECIALIST  IN  FARM  CROPS,  IN  EXPERIMENT  STATION. 


Illinois'  annual  corn  crop,  about  240,000,000  bushels,  is  raised 
on  nearly  8,000,000  acres  of  land.  It  requires  almost  1,000,000 
bushels  of  seed  corn  to  plant  the  corn  fields  of  this  state. 

If  the  character  of  the  seed  has  any  considerable  influence  upon 
the  crop  produced,  then  the  production  and  use  of  the  best  possible 
seed  corn  becomes  a  matter  of  tremendous  importance. 

What  is  the  quality  of  the  seed  corn  planted  by  the  Illinois 
farmers?  To  answer  this  question  it  will  be  necessary  to  study  the 
character  of  seed  corn  under  several  different  heads. 

UNIFORMITY.  As  a  rule  little  attention  has  been  given  to  the 
character  of  the  seed  corn;  little  examination  has  been  made  of  the 
proportion  of  corn  to  cob,  of  the  purity  of  color,  the  space  between 
rows,  the  filling-  out  of  ends,  the  length,  circumference,  or  shape, 
or  of  any  of  the  important  points  which  go  to  make  up  a  good  ear 
of  corn. 

It  has  been  found  by  seed  corn  growers  that  the  length,  cir- 
cumference or  shape  of  the  ear  can  be  varied  at  will  by  selection, 
and  there  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  these  characteristics  can 
be  so  fixed  that  practically  all  of  the  ears  in  a  field  grown  from 
pedigreed,  uniform  seed  will  be  of  approximately  uniform  size  and 
shape.  Further,  it  has  been  found  that  the  number  of  rows  of 

29 


30  BULLKTIN  NO.  63.  [Marc/i, 

kernels  on  the  cob,  the  filling-  out  of  the  ends,  or  other  character- 
istics, can  be  improved  by  planting-  from  seed  having-  these  charac- 
teristics. 

It  has  been  demonstrated,  that  it  is  not  good  practice  to  plant 
small  kernels  of  grain  of  any  sort.  Therefore,  it  is  not  good  policy 
to  plant  the  tip  kernels.  As  the  butt  kernels  usually  vary  greatly 
in  size  from  the  kernels  on  the  rest  of  the  ear,  it  is  a  good  plan  to 
shell  off  and  discard  both  the  tips  and  butts  of  the  ears  selected  for 
seed.  Again,  as  the  butts  of  the  ears  mature  first  and  the  tips  last, 
it  is  probable  that  these  parts  have  been  fertilized  by  pollen  of  an 
early  or  late  variety  from  some  neighboring  field;  so  by  shelling 
off  the  butts  and  tips,  part  of  the  danger  of  mixed  seed  can  be 
avoided.  In  general,  shell  off  the  small  and  the  extremely  large 
kernels,  so  that  the  portion  of  the  ear  remaining  for  seed  has  ker- 
nels of  approximately  uniform  size.  With  most  varieties  of  corn, 
about  one-half  inch  of  butt  kernels  and  one  inch  of  tip  kernels 
should  usually  be  shelled  off. 

VITALITY.  Owing  to  a  late  spring  or  early  frosts,  it  frequent- 
ly happens  that  the  seed  corn  does  not  fully  mature.  In  this  con- 
dition the  ear  is  likely  to  mold  and  decay,  thus  destroying  the 
vitality  of  the  grain.  As  the  majority  of  farmers  in  Illinois  allow 
the  seed  corn  to  remain  in  the  general  crib  during  the  winter  ex- 
posed to  the  sudden  and  violent  changes  in  temperature,  such  corn,, 
full  of  moisture,  will  freeze,  and  consequently  the  life  of  the  germ 
may  be  weakened  or  destroyed.  The  seed  corn  in  central  Illinois, 
selected  from  the  crop  of  1898,  was  so  much  injured  in  this  way 
that  the  University  tests  of  the  vitality  of  seed  corn  sent  in  by 
farmers  from  this  section  of  the  state,  gave  an  average  of  only  76 
per  cent,  germinating.  Such  seed  was  not  fit  to  plant,  but  as  no 
provision  had  been  made  by  the  farmers  for  drying  and  properly 
preserving  seed  corn,  and  as  this  was  the  only  seed  available,  it 
was  planted  with  a  resultant  poor  stand,  light  crop,  and  loss  of 
profits. 

Immature  seed  should  not  be  planted  for  several  reasons:  First, 
such  kernels  do  not  contain  as  much  plant  food  as  those  which  are 
fully  developed,  and  thus  do  not  provide  as  much  nourishment  for 
the  young  plants  which,  consequently,  do  not  get  so  vigorous  and 
healthy  a  start  as  those  from  mature  seeds.  Second,  the  excessive 
moisture  in  the  immature  seeds  renders  them  liable  to  begin  to 
germinate  in  the  fall  in  the  crib,  and  thus  use  up  a  part  of  their 
strength;  or  a  sudden  drop  in  temperature  may  freeze  the  corn  and 
destroy  the  life  of  the  seed. 

Seed  corn  should  test  95  per  cent,  vitality;  i.  e.,  of  the  seed 


liKKKDING    OF    SKKU    CORN.  3! 

planted  in  the  seed  bed  95  per  cent,  should  grow.  If  the  seed  does 
not  give  this  test  of  vitality,  a  poor  stand  will  be  the  result.  Nor 
is  it  wise  for  the  farmer  to  try  to  make  up  for  poor  seed  by  planting- 
a  greater  number  of  grains,  because  of  seeds  which  give  a  low  test 
of  vitality  many  of  those  which  do  grow  lack  strength  and  vigor 
and  will  consequently  produce  weak  plants.  Furthermore,  an  un- 
even stand  will  surely  result,  some  hills  being  over-crowded 
(frequently  with  weak  plants)  and  other  hills  being-  left  with  per- 
haps no  plants  at  all  because  of  the  unequal  distribution  of  the  seed 
that  will  germinate.  Seed  of  low  vitality  will  inevitably  tend  to 
the  production  of  a  poor  crop.  It  is  important,  therefore,  that  the 
farmer  make  a  test  of  the  vitality  in  order  that  he  may  know  the 
quality  of  his  seed.  A  most  simple,  effective,  and  practical  method 
of  testing  the  vitality  of  seed  corn  is  as  follow:  Fill  common  dinner 
plates  nearly  level  full  of  fine  sand,  pour  water  over  the  sand  until 
it  is  more  than  saturated,  shake  gently  to  level  the  sand,  allow  it 
to  settle,  and  then  drain  off  the  surplus  water.  Push  50  kernels 
into  the  sand  in  each  plate,  turn  a  smaller  plate  over  the  sand  to 
prevent  too  rapid  evaporation  of  moisture,  and  set  both  in  a  warm 
place.  Keep  the  sand  moist  and  in  seven  days  all  of  the  healthy 
kernels  should  sprout.  By  counting-  the  kernels  sprouted,  the  per 
cent,  of  good  seed  can  easily  be  computed. 

PEDIGREE.  As  a  matter  of  fact  the  history  of  the  development 
of  most  of  the  strains  of  corn  now  grown  in  the  state,  is  very  brief. 
With  few  exceptions  no  record  has  been  kept  of  the  various  crosses, 
and  but  few  varieties  have  been  selected  toward  a  particular  type 
for  a  special  purpose  for  any  considerable  length  of  time.  There 
have  been  but  few  systematic  or  practical  attempts  at  improvement, 
and  the  result  is  that  we  are,  as  a  rule,  growing-  mongrel  or  scrub 
varieties.  A  few  varieties,  however,  have  been  carefully  selected, 
in  accordance  with  definite  ideas  as  to  improvement,  for  about  a 
quarter  of  a  century  and  have  developed  certain  characteristics, 
distinguishing  them  from  other  varieties.  In  such  instances  it  has 
been  found  that,  if  the  corn  has  been  selected  toward  a  uniform 
standard  type,  the  yield  has  been  increased  because  of  the  produc- 
tion of  uniformly  better  ears.  The  yields  of  varieties  tested  at 
this  Experiment  Station  from  1888  to  1900,  inclusive,  show  the 
same  result.  Also  enough  has  been  accomplished  to  prove  that 
almost  any  characteristic  desired  in  a  variety  can  be  fixed  by  per- 
sistent selection,  and  that  these  characteristics  can  be  continually 
improved  by  further  selection. 

The  development  of  the  per  cent,  of  sug-ar  in  the  sugar  beet 
furnishes  a  splendid  illustration  of  the  possibilities  of  plant  breed- 


32  BULLETIN   NO.  63.  \Marcll, 

ing".  Starting-  with  ordinary  beets  with  about  4  per  cent,  of  sugar, 
the  French  and  German  seed  growers  by  selection  have  increased 
the  sugar  content  to  an  average  of  12  to  16  per  cent,  making  it 
possible  to  manufacture  profitably  sugar  from  this  source.  There  is 
little  doubt  that  there  are  as  great  or  greater  possibilities  in  the 
corn  plant,  and  that  these  possibilities  can  be  as  easily  developed 
as  the  increased  sugar  content  of  the  beet.  The  development  of 
our  present  breeds  of  cattle  and  other  live  stock  plainly  shows  how 
careful,  systematic,  and  intelligent  selection  and  breeding  have 
improved  these  breeds.  We  have  developed  the  dairy  type  and  the 
beef  type  from  the  same  s.ource;  the  light  and  draft  horse  from  the 
same  type  by  breeding  and  selection. 

Corn  responds  to  selection  as  readily  as  do  beets  and  cattle,  and 
there  is  no  longer  any  doubt  but  that  varieties  of  corn  can  be 
further  improved  by  similar  methods. 

It  has  been  found  that  the  chemical  composition  of  the  corn 
kernel  varies,  and  the  experiments  conducted  by  this  Station  have 
conclusively  shown  that  the  proportion  of  the  constituents  of 
chemical  composition  can  be  varied  at  the  will  of  the  breeder 
(Bulletin  No.  55,  Illinois  Experiment  Station,  ''Improvement  in 
the  Chemical  Composition  df  the  Corn  Kernel.")  In  other  words, 
it  has  been  found  possible  to  increase  or  decrease  the  proportion  of 
oil,  or  of  starch,  or  of  protein,  by  seed  selection.  When  seed  high 
in  protein  is  planted,  a  product  high  in  protein  is  the  result  and 
vice  versa.  The  same  thing  holds  true  with  seed  high  in  starch, 
or  oil. 

What  is  true  of  the  chemical  composition,  is  eminently  true  of 
the  physical  characteristics  of  the  ears;  For  instance,  the  shape  of 
the  Learning  kernel  has  been  changed  by  twenty -five  years  of  selec- 
tion from  the  original  shoe-peg  shaped  kernel  to  a  broader,  deep 
grain  with  a  deeper  dent.  Along  with  this  variation  in  shape  of 
kernel  has  gone  an  increase  in  length  of  ear  and  a  slight  increase 
in  circumference.  Again,  in  the  case  of  the  Boone  County  white 
variety,  the  tips  of  the  original  corn  were  poorly  filled.  This  fact 
was  due  principally  to  the  reason  that  the  Boone  County  white  ears 
are  very  long.  As  an  ear  matures  from  the  butt  towards  the  tip, 
the  tip  maturing  last,  it  frequently  happened  that  the  pollen  was 
all  gone  before  the  tips  of  some  of  these  ears  had  been  fertilized. 
By  selecting  for  seed  corn  only  those  ears  which  were  well  filled, 
in  other  words,  the  ears  all  parts  of  which  matured  in  time  for  the 
pollen  to  fertilize  them,  the  best  samples  of  this  variety  have 
become  well  filled  at  the  tips. 

The  Golden  Eagle  corn  was  originally  a  medium  to  shallow 


IQOI.]  BREEDING   OF   SKED   CORK.  33 

grained  corn,  but  by  constant  selection  toward  deeper  kernels  and 
deeper  dent,  the  variety  has  developed  a  very  deep  kernel  with  an 
unusually  deep  indentation.  It  has  been  found  at  the  University 
through  five  years  of  experimentation,  that  the  amount  of  husks, 
length  of  shank,  size  of  stalk,  position  of  the  ear  on  the  stalk,  the 
number  of  leaves,  iti  fact  every  physicial  characteristic  can  be 
varied  by  simple  selection  in  a  short  space  of  time. 

At  present  our  meager  records  show  only  the  incomplete  his- 
tory of  the  parentage  of  the  varieties  of  corn.  It  is  just  as  impor- 
tant that  we  know  the  character  of  every  part  of  the  corn  plant,  as 
that  we  know  every  characteristic  of  the  animal.  The  size,  shape, 
and  characteristics  of  the  stalk  strongly  influence  the  development 
of  the  ear;  and  it  is  probable  also  that  we  shall  need  to  know  the 
nature  of  the  root  development  in  order  to  breed  intelligently. 

How  TO.  GROW  SEED  CORN.  The  farmer  who  is  especially  in- 
terested in  corn  can  well  afford  to  grow  his  own  stock  seed.  He 
can  select  for  those  qualities  he  particularly  desires,  adapt  the  corn 
to  his  peculiar  conditions  of  soil  and  climate,  and  continue  to  pro- 
duce a  constantly  improving-  grade  of  corn. 

The  first  essential  in  growing-  seed  corn  is,  that  one  obtain 
from  some  reliable  corn  breeder  thirty  to  forty  ears  of  highly  bred 
seed  of  the  variety  desired.  Corn  suitable  for  growing-  seed  is  dif- 
ficult to  obtain.  It  does  not  exist  in  large  quantities,  because  of 
the  high  standard  of  perfection  which  must  be  maintained  in  its 
selection,  and  so  it  must  be  very  expensive,  but  the  farmer  can  well 
afford  to  pay  a  high  price  in  order  to  get  it  for  breeding  purposes. 
It  is  absolutely  necessary  that  the  farmer  obtain  this  seed  corn  in 
the  ear,  because  it  is  impossible  to  judge  accurately  the  quality  of 
seed  corn  after  it  is  shelled. 

An  acre  or  more  of  good  land  should  be  selected  which  is 
located  at  a  distance  of  about  forty  rods  from  any  other  corn  field 
(unless  thick  groves  or  hedges  are  between)  and,  if  possible,  fur- 
ther, especially  in  the  direction  of  the  most  prevalent  summer 
winds,  in  order  that  the  corn  may  not  be  mixed  by  the  pollen  from 
other  varieties  or  from  low  grade  corn  of  the  same  variety.  After 
the  seed  bed  is  well  prepared  and  the  field  marked  both  ways  plant 
the  corn  from  each  ear  by  itself,  either  in  plots  about  nine  or  ten 
hills  square  or  in  rows  running  lengthwise  of  the  field.  The  plant- 
ing is  best  done  by  hand,  and  must  be  so  done  if  the  plot  system  is 
adopted.  A  square  field  of  thirty-six  square  plots  of  one  hundred 
hills  each  is  a  little  more  than  one  acre;  or  28  rows  of  127  hills 
each  make  practically  an  exact  acre  if  the  hills  are  three  feet  six 
inches  apart  each  way.  Discard  all  tips  and  butts  and  any  other 


BULLETIN    XO.   63. 


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7?o  Seed  Should  I3e  IPlanted    Tleav    South   Side. 


abnormal  or  mixed  kernels  and  plant  each  plot  or  each  row  with 
corn  from  a  single  ear.  What  is  left  of  the  ears  may  be  mixed  to- 
g-ether and  used  to  plant  a  border  around  the  acre  field  to  further 
protect  it  from  foreign  pollen.  This  border  is  of  course  cultivated 
with  the  rest  of  the  field.  Keep  each  year  a  carefully  selected 
typical  ear  for  purposes  of  comparison  and  to  show  changes  effected 
year  by  year. 

As  soon  as  the  ears  begin  to  set  and  the  character  of  the  stalks 
can  be  determined,  go  through  the  field  and  cut  out  all  of  the  poor, 
dwarfed,  or  barren  stalks,  and  also  any  volunteer  or  accidental 
stalks  which  may  appear  in  the  field,  so  that  the  pollen  from  these 
inferior  stalks  cannot  fertilize  the  future  seed.  The  same  object 
may  be  accomplished  by  detasseling  these  imperfect  stalks  just  as 
the  tassels  begin  to  peep  through  the  leaves. 

Husk  each  plot  or  row  grown  from  a  single  ear  separately. 


IgOl.]  r  BREEDING   OF   SEED    CORN.  35 

Examine  the  ears  closely  and  select  ears  for  the  next  year's  seed 
acre  from  those  plots  or  rows  having-  the  greatest  proportion  of 
ears  true  to  type.  The  ears  which  produce  this  large  proportion 
of  ears  true  to  type  must  have  a  prepotency  for  the  production  of 
ears  of  this  uniform  type,  and  by  planting-  ears  from  such  a  crop, 
which  has  inherited  this  prepotency,  and  by  following-  this  method 
of  selection  tor  a  series  of  years,  a  rapid  improvement  will  take 
place. 

After  the  required  number  of  the  very  best  ears  has  been  taken 
as  described  for  the  next  year's  seed  acre,  a  considerable  quantity 
of  highly  bred  seed  can  be  selected  for  common  planting-  or  for 
planting-  in  a  separate  field  to  produce  larger  quantities  of  stock 
seed.  This  stock  seed  being  but  one  or  two  generations  removed 
from  the  highest  type  of  seed  will  naturally  retain  qualities  and 
and  preserve  characteristics  of  the  highly  bred  corn. 

The  two  systems  of  planting,  which  may  be  termed  the  "  plot 
system"  and  the  "row  system"  are  both  used  and  both  will  doubt- 
less give  good  results.  It  is  thought  that  the  plot  system  may 
effect  a  closer  in-breeding,  but  whether  this  is  true,  or  whether,  if 
it  be  true,  it  is  desirable  or  advantageous  is  not  yet  determined. 
For  simplicity  the  row  system  is  recommended.  It  has  been  used 
for  several  years  at  this  Experiment  Station  in  the  above  mentioned 
corn  breeding  experiments  by  which  marked  improvement  has  been 
effected  in  the  chemical  composition  of  corn,  and  it  has  been 
adopted  by  several  breeders  who  are  taking  up  similar  lines  of  corn 
breeding. 

THE  PHYSICAL  CHARACTERISTICS  OF  CORN. 

It  was  early  found  in  studying  samples  of  corn  that  the  different 
varieties  possessed  peculiar  characteristics  which  run  uniformly 
through  the  different  samples  of  each  variety.  In  other  words 
certain  characteristics  of  color,  shape  of  kernel,  shape  and  size  of 
ear,  etc.,  have  been  fixed  by  the  breeder  during  a  long  series  of 
years.  It  was  found  that  certain  varieties  possessed  characteristics 
that  other  varieties  did  not  have.  From  an  examination  of  the 
different  varieties  a  list  of  the  various  characteristics  of  corn,  as 
shape  of  ear,  cob,  and  kernel,  nature  of  indentation,  color  of  grain 
and  cob,  character  of  tip  and  butt,  number  of  rows  of  kernels  on 
ear,  length  and  circumference  of  ear,  etc.,  has  been  made  as  a  basis 
in  the  study  of  varieties.  This  list  is  here  presented  with  the 
thought  that  it  may  aid  breeders  to  study  their  varieties  of  corn  in1 
a  more  s}7stematic  manner.  The  terms  given  are  defined  so  that 
the  farmer  can  take  one  ear  at  a  time,  run  through  the  list  of 


36  BULLETIN  No.  63.  [March, 

characteristics  marking-  the  ones  which  apply  to  the  ear  and  mak- 
ing- the  necessary  measurements,  and  in  this  way  taking-  up  every 
point  in  the  study  of  corn  in  detail. 

EAR. — Cylindrical.  (Uniform  in  circumference  from  butt  to 
tip.) 

Partly  cylindrical.  (Uniform  in  circumference  for  a  portion  of 
leng-th.) 

Slowly  tapering-.     (Taper  slig-ht,  reg-ular. ) 

Distinctly  tapering-.     (Taper  very  apparent.) 

Very  tapering-.     (Extremely  tapering-.) 

Too  short  for  circumference;  too  long-  for  circumference. 
(Proper  proportion  of  circumference  to  leng-th  is  as  3  to  4,  or  for 
medium  varieties  7y2  inches  to  10  inches.) 

Rows  in  distinct  pairs.  (Alternate  spaces  between  rows  of 
kernels  wider  than  the  others.) 

Number  of  rows.     (Counted  three  inches  from  butt.) 

Rows  lost.  (Disappearing-  after  extending  3  inches  or  more 
from  butt  ) 

Narrow  space  between  rows.     (Rows  pressed  closely  tog-ether.) 

Medium  space  between  rows.     (Distinct  furrows.) 

Wide  space  between  rows.     (Wide  furrows.) 

Circumference  of  ear  at  butt;  circumference  of  ear  at  tip. 
(Measured  two  inches  from  the  ends.) 

Length  of  ear.     (Measured  from  butt  to  tip.) 

Rows  straig-ht.     (Parallel  with  cob.) 

Rows  turned  to  rig-ht;  rows  turned  to  left.  (Rows  angle  to 
right  or  left  of  a  straig-ht  line  from  butt  to  tip.) 

BUTT. — Even.  (Entire  end  of  tob  exposed,  with  butt  kernels 
at  right  angles  to  axis  of  cob.) 

Shallow  rounded.     (Cavity  at  butt  shallow,  broad.) 

Moderately  rounded.  (Cavity  moderately  deep,  medium 
diameter.) 

Deeply  rounded.     (Cavity  at  butt  deep,  small  diameter.) 

Compressed.     (Cob  rounded  at  end. ) 

Enlarged.     (Large  butt  with  no  extra  rows  or  kernels.)    . 

Expanded.       (Larg-e  butt  caused  by  extra  rows  or  kernels.) 

Open.     (Greater  space  between  rows  at  butt.) 

Depressed.  (Kernels  at  butt  flat,  smooth  and  short,  indicating 
a  tight  husk.) 

Kernels  diverg-ing-.  (Space  between  summits  of  kernels  in 
same  row.) 

TIP.  — Kernels  in  rows.     (Rows  may  be  traced  to  tip.) 
Flat.     (Cob  flattened  at  tip.) 


BREEDING   OF   SEED   CORK.  37 

P 

Filled.      (Entire  end  of  cob  covered  with  kernels.) 
Capped.     (A  central  kernel  projecting-  from  filled  tip.) 
KERNEL. — Firm.     (Rig-id  on  cob.) 
Loose.     (Movable  on  cob.) 

Roof-shaped  at  one  edg-e.     (Convex  at  one  edg-e  and  flat  at  the 
other.) 

Uprig-ht.      (At  right  angles  with  surface  of  cob.) 
Sloping-.     (Leaning- towards  tip.) 
Overlapping-  at  summit.     (As  shing-les  on  a  roof.) 
Straig-ht  wedge-shaped.     (Edges  of  kernels  straight, tapering-.) 
Rounded   wedge-shaped.      (Edges  rounded  lengthwise,  taper- 
ing.) 

Square  at  top.     (Corners  not  rounded  at  summit.) 
Shoe-peg  form.     (Long  narrow  kernel  holding  size  to  tip.) 
Rounded  corners.     (Corners  rounded  at  summit  and  base.) 
Rectangular.     (Short  and  broad,  as  broad  at  base  as  at  summit. ) 
Beaked.     (With  long,  sharp,  tapering  projection.) 
Slightly  rounded  at  edges.      (Rounded  lengthwise  of  kernel.) 
Small  sharp  point  at  summit.     (Pointed  projection  from  chit 
side  of  kernel.) 

Round  smooth  dented.     (Round  smooth  depression  at  summit 
of  kernel.) 

Long  smooth  dented.     (Long  smooth  depression.) 
Crease-dented.     (Edges  of  kernels  pressed  toward  each  other, 
leaving  small  space  between,  and  edges  parallel.) 

Pinched  dented.     (Edges  of  kernels  pinched  closely  together.) 
Rough  projection  dented.     (With  any  rough  ragged  or  beaked 
projection  from  summit  of  kernel.) 

Bridge-dented.     (Crease-dented  with  fold  across  center.) 

Crumple-dented.     (Seed  coat  wrinkled,  as  in  sweet  corn.) 

Breadth;  depth;  thickness.      (Exact  measure.) 

Color.     (Note  shade.) 

SHANK. — Large.     (Nearly  the  diameter  of  cob. ) 

Medium.     (Half  the  diameter  of  cob.) 

Small.     (One-third  the  diameter  of  cob  or  less.) 

COB.— Large.     (Larger  than  4^  inches  in  circumference.) 

Medium.     (From  3^  to  4^  inches  in  circumference.) 

Small.     (Not  more  than  3^  inches  in  circumference.) 

Color.     (Note  shade. ) 

SOME  VARIETIES  ADAPTED  TO  ILLINOIS  CONDITIONS. 

There  are   at   present   a  few  distinct  varieties  of  corn,  with 
widely  different  characteristics,  that  have  been  developed  by  care 


BULLETIN   NO.   63. 


[March, 


CHARACTERISTICS. 


i.  Ear,  slowly  tapering.  2.  Circumference,  6.9  inches,  length  0.5  inches. 
3.  Kernels,  very  firm  on  cob  and  upright.  4.  Number  of  rows,  18  to  24.  5, 
Space  between  rows,  very  narrow.  6.  Kernels,  in  distinct  pairs  of  rows.  7.  Butt. 


looi.J 


ESTABLISHED   VARIETIES 


39 


deeply  rounded,  very  compressed  with  kernels  diverging.  8.  Kernels,  light 
yellow,  square  at  top  tapering  to  a  point  by  straight  lines  with  long  smooth  to 
pinched  indentation.  9.  Shank,  small,  jo.  Cob,  medium,  red. 


4O  BULLETIN   NO.    63,  [March, 

ful  selection,  during"  a  quarter  to  a  half  century.  From  the  fact 
that  we  have  had  no  standard  of  perfection  for  these  varieties,  in- 
deed, have  not  known  their  history  or  peculiar  characteristics,  im- 
provement has  been  very  slow  and  has  been  along- the  line  of  in- 
creased yield  and  adaptation  to  peculiarities  of  soil  and  climate. 

There  are  several  well  known  varieties,  which  have  been  grown 
in  Illinois  for  many  years,  and  have  become  acclimated  to  our  con- 
ditions. It  is  proposed  to  give  photographs  of  representative 
samples  of  these  varieties  in  order  that  the  farmer  may  select  that 
type  which  best  suits  him.  Tog-ether  with  these  photographs  are 
given  the  histories  of  the  different  varieties  as  far  back  as  they  can 
be  secured  from  the  breeders.  Further  information  as  to  the  char- 
acteristics of  these  varieties  can  be  gained  by  an  examination  of  the 
results  of  a  systematic  study  of  the  different  varieties,  under  the 
head  of  "Characteristics." 

REID'S  YELLOW  DENT. 

I 

HISTORY. 

The  following  is  the  history  of  Reid's  yellow  dent  as  given  by  the  origina- 
tor and  breeder,  Mr.  James  L.  Reid,  of  Delavan,  Illinois. 

In  1846  Robert  Reid  brought  from  Brown  County,  Ohio,  to  Illinois  a  variety 
of  corn  called  at  that  time  the  "Gordon  Hopkins'  corn."  This  was  reddish  col- 
ored, grown  widely  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Red  Oak  settlement,  the  home  of  Mr. 
Robert  Reid.  The  corn  was  planted  near  Delavan,  Illinois,  by  Robert  Reid  late 
in  the  spring  of  1846  and  a  fair  yield  of  immature  corn  was  harvested.  Seed  was 
selected  from  this  crop  for  the  next  year's  planting,  but  on  account  of  the  imma- 
turity of  the  seed  a  poor  stand  was  the  result.  The  field  was  replanted  with  seed 
of  the  "Little  Yellow  Corn,"  the  missing  hills  being  planted  with  a  hoe.  The  corn 
has  not  been  purposely  mixed  by  Mr.  Reid  since  1847,  and  has  been  improved  by 
selection  since  that  date. 

It  is  adapted  to  central  and  northern  sections  of  Illinois.  This  variety  is  of 
medium  early  maturity.  The  characteristics  are  very  constant  in  all  samples  due 
to  the  fact  that  they  have  been  strongly  impressed  by  fifty  years'  selection.  The 
photographs  of  the  samples  of  Reids  yellow  dent,  one  from  the  originator  Mr.  J. 
L.  Reid,  the  other  from  Mr.  A.  C.  Rhoades,  illustrate  the  uniformity  of  the  charac- 
teristics running  through  the  Reid  variety.  Mr.  Rhoades  secured  seed  from  Mr. 
Reid  about  five  years  ago,  and  has  grown  this  variety  without  intentional  crossing 
since  that  time.  In  the  samples  of  Mr.  Rhoades'  corn  sent  to  the  Experiment 
Station  for  examination,  the  indentation  and  shape  of  kernel,  shape  of  ear,  filling 
out  at  tips  and  butts,  length  and  circumference,  size  and  shape  of  cob,  are  uni- 
formly and  strongly  Reid  characteristics.  This  condition  shows  very  decidedly 
that  the  characteristics  that  have  been  impressed  on  this  variety  of  corn,  are 
strongly  fixed  and  are  uniformly  reproduced.  It  offers  one  of  the  best  illustra- 
tions of  the  effect  of  intelligent  selection.  The  original  corn  with  small  ears, 
poorly  filled  out  and  small  number  of  rows  being  changed  by  selection  to  one  of 
the  most  improved  varieties  grown. 


ESTABLISHED   VARIETIES. 


BULLETIN   NO.   63. 


[Marc /i, 


IQOI.]  ESTABLISHED  VARIETIES.  43 

GOLDEN  EAGLE. 

HISTORY. 

The  golden  eagle  variety  was  originated  by  Mr.  H.  B.  Perry,  of  Toulon,  Illi- 
nois, in  1871.  Mr.  Perry  selected  seed  from  the  so-called  "  Mason  County  Yellow  " 
corn.  This  corn  had  rather  small  ears,  red  cobs,  and  small  kernels,  of  a  bright 
yellow  color.  The  selection  since  that  time  has  been  towards  a  large  proportion 
of  corn  to  cob.  This  variety  has  been  bred  by  Mr,  Perry  on  his  farm  without  mix- 
ture since  1871  and  has  developed  certain  prominent  characteristics,  particularly 
deep  grain  and  well  filled  ends. 

The  golden  eagle  is  of  medium  maturity,  usually  maturing  in  from  no  to 
.115  days;  adapted  to  the  central  and  the  south  half  of  the  northern  division  of  Illi- 
nois. The  characteristics  are  very  uniform  in  samples  grown  under  different  con- 
ditions, a  result  of  29  years  of  continuous  breeding  without  crossing.  The  variety 
at  present  shows  a  great  improvement  over  the  original  type  and  is  one  of  the 
best  examples  of  the  results  of  selection. 

CHARACTERISTICS. 

i.  Ear,  slowly  tapering.  2.  Circumference,  7  inches,  length  8.9  inches. 
3.  Kernels,  loose  on  cob  and  upright.  4.  Number  of  rows,  16  to  20.  5.  Space 
between  rows,  medium  to  wide.  6.  Kernels,  deep.  7.  Butt,  moderately  rounded, 
compressed.  8.  Kernels,  deep  yellow,  very  marked,  rough  projection  at  summit, 
straight  edges,  and  rough  projection  dented.  9.  Shank,  small.  10.  Cob,  small, 
red. 

IOWA  SILVER  MINE. 

HISTORY. 

The  Iowa  silver  mine  variety  of  corn  was  originated  by  Mr.  J.  H.  Beagley,  of 
Sibley,  Illinois,  from  seed  selected  from  a  prize  winning  exhibit  of  white  corn  at- 
the  Ford  County  Farmers'  Institute  in  1890.  After  sufficient  corn  had  been  grown 
to  plant  a  twenty  acre  field,  the  crop  was  sold  to  the  Iowa  Seed  Company  which 
named  it  Iowa  silver  mine  and  sold  large  quantities  of  seed  to  Illinois  farmers. 
The  originator  has  selected  towards  a  creamy  white  color,  cylindrical  shape  taper- 
ing slightly  at  tip  with  an  average  of  about  18  rows  of  kernels.  This  variety  has 
been  developed  by  selection,  no  crossing  or  mixing  of  varieties  having  occurred. 
The  variety  characteristics  are  strong,  especially  in  those  strains  grown  in  the 
northern  division  of  the  state. 

The  variety  is  from  medium  to  early  maturing,  adapted  to  the  north  half  of 
the  central  and  the  northern  section  of  the  state. 

CHARACTERISTICS. 

i.  Ears,  partly  cylindrical  and  partly  slowly  tapering.  2.  Circumference, 
7.2  inches,  length  8.7  inches.  3.  Kernels,  firm  on  cob  and  upright.  4.  Number 
of  rows,  16  to  20.  5.  Space  between  rows,  medium.  6.  Kernels,  in  distinct 
pairs  of  rows  developing  distinct  rows  at  tips.  7.  Butt,  moderately  rounded, 
compressed.  8.  Kernels,  cream  white,  deep,  even  at  summit  except  for  rough 
projection,  straight  edges,  tapering,  rough  projection  dented.  9.  Shank,  medium. 
10.  Cob,  small,  white. 


44 


BULLETIN   NO.  63 


\_Afarch, 


igoi.] 


ESTABLISHED    VAKIICTI  KS. 


45 


46  BULLETIN  NO.  63.  [March, 

RILEY'S  FAVORITE. 

HISTORY. 

The  Riley's  favorite  variety  was  originated  by  Mr.  James  Riley,  of  Thorn- 
town,  Indiana,  in  1885.  It  is  a  hybrid,  the  result  of  a  cross  of  a  large  late  corn, 
the  golden  yellow,  with  a  small  early  corn,  the  pride  of  the  north.  It  has  been 
bred  in  the  following  manner:  A  plot  of  one-half  acre  was  selected  away  from 
any  other  variety  of  corn  and  planted  in  the  usual  way.  As  soon  as  the  tassels 
began  to  appear,  the  barren  and  diseased  stalks  were  all  removed,  leaving  only 
healthy  stalks.  In  this  way  future  seed  could  not  be  fertilized  by  pollen  from 
barren  or  dwarfed  stalks.  Mr.  Riley  selected  towards  a  medium  sized  ear,  small 
cob,  well  filled  tips  and  butts,  and  stalk  of  medium  height.* 

The  Riley's  favorite  variety  is  of  early  maturity,  adapted  to  the  central  and 
northern  divisions  of  Illinois. 

This  variety  strongly  illustrates  the  fact  that  improvement  takes  place  in 
corn  breeding  through  selection  without  crossing.  Our  varieties  are  sufficiently 
variable  without  introducing  unknown  characteristics,  and  selection  will  tend  to 
develop  these  variations  along  the  lines  desired  by  the  corn  breeder. 

CHARACTERISTICS. 

i.  Ear,  slowing  tapering.  2.  Circumference,  7.1  inches,  length  9  inches. 
3.  Kernels  loose  on  cob  and  upright.  4.  Number  of  rows,  16  to  20.  5.  Space 
between  rows,  wide.  6.  Kernels  in  distinct  pairs  of  rows,  about  half  of  the  ears 
having  distinct  rows  at  tips.  7.  Butt,  moderately  rounded,  compressed.  8.  Ker- 
nels, yellow,  straight  wedge-shape,  pinched  to  rough  projection  dented,  with  a 
tendency  in  the  rough  summits  to  be  beaked.  9.  Shank,  medium  to  small.  10. 
Cob,  small,  red. 

WHITE   SUPERIOR. 

HISTORY. 

The  history  of  the  white  superior  variety  as  nearly  as  can  be  learned  from 
the  account  of  Mr.  P.  R.  Sperry,  of  Eleanor,  Illinois,  a  breeder  of  this  corn,  is  as 
follows: 

Mr.  Shaffer,  a  seed  corn  specialist,  introduced  from  Pennsylvania  to  Warren 
County,  Illinois,  a  variety  of  corn  he  called  the  white  elephant,  about  1880.  In 
1895  Mr.  Sperry  began  selecting  seed  from  this  variety  for  a  different  type  than 
the  white  elephant.  He  selected  one  bushel  of  seed  of  the  type  desired  and 
planted  this  seed  by  itself,  so  that  it  would  not  be  mixed  with  any  other  variety. 
In  changing  the  type  of  corn  Mr.  Sperry  changed  the  name  to  the  white  superior. 


*  As  a  matter  of  fact  neither  Mr.  Riley  nor  other  growers  of  Riley's  favorite  have  been 
able  to  fix  the  above  characteristics  of  this  variety.  One  season  would  develop  a  certain  set  of 
characteristics,  while  a  different  season  would  briny  out  different  characteristics.  This  con- 
dition is  a  result  of  the  cross  made  in  the  beginning-  of  selection,  in  this  way  mingling-  tog-ether 
widely  differing-  characteristics.  In  order  to  fix  any  characteristic,  it  takes  years  of  selection 
for  this  point,  and  the  Riley's  favorite  has  not  been  selected  long  enough  to  give  the  variety  any 
fixed  type.  In  the  illustration  of  the  samples  of  Riley's  favorite,  one  from  Mr.  James  Riley  and 
the  other  from  Mr.  T.  A.  Baldwin,  little  uniformity  of  characteristics  of  ear  can  be  found.  In 
a  careful  examination  of  these  samples,  it  was  clearly  demonstrated  that  little  similarity  of 
characteristics  existed  between  the  two  samples,  althoug-h  Mr.  Baldwin  secured  the  seed  of 
this  variety  directly  from  Mr.  James  Riley  only  a  few  years  ag-o.  In  a  shipment  from  Mr. 
Riley  of  about  25  bushels  of  Riley's  favorite  seed  in  the  ear,  a  large  number  of  ears  resembling 
the  pride  of  the  north  variety,  and  about  an  equal  number  of  ears  similar  to  the  yellow  mastodon 
variety,  were  found.  A  small  proportion  of  ears  of  the  Riley's  favorite  type  could  be  picked  out 
by  careful  selection. 


IQOI.] 


ESTABLISHED   VARIETIES. 


47 


48  BULLETIN  NO.  63.  [March, 

His  selection  was  as  follows:  Kernels  one-half  inch  in  length  and  one-fourth  inch 
in  width;  ears  eleven  inches  long,  seven  and  one-half  inches  in  circumference 
with  little  space  between  rows.  The  white  superior  is  of  medium  maturity,  and 
is  adapted  to  the  central  and  north  central  sections  of  the  state. 

CHARACTERISTICS. 

i.  Ear,  slowly  tapering.  2.  Circumference  7  inches,  length  8.4  inches. 
3.  Kernels  firm  on  cob  and  upright.  4.  Number  of  rows,  18  to  20.  5.  Space 
between  rows,  medium.  6.  Kernels  in  distinct  rows.  7.  Butt,  shallow,  rounded 
depressed,  slightly  compressed.  8.  Kernels  white,  tapering  with  slightly  curved 
edges  and  rough  projection  dented.  9.  Shank,  medium  to  large.  10.  Cob, 
medium,  white. 

LEAMING. 

HISTORY. 

The  Learning  variety  was  originated  by  Mr.  J.  S.  Learning,  of  Wilmington, 
Ohio,  in  1826.  Mr.  Learning  began  selecting  seed  at  this  time  from  the  ordinary 
yellow  corn  grown bn  the  "Little  Miami  Bottoms,"  Hamilton  County,  Ohio.  He 
selected  this  corn  toward  a  standard  type  in  his  mind  for  56  years,  to  be  followed 
by  his  son,  J.  S.  Learning,  Jr.  His  method  of  selection  was  to  go  through  a  field 
as  soon  as  the  earliest  husks  began  to  show  signs  of  ripening,  selecting  ears  from. 
stalks  tapering  from  butt  to  tassel,  ears  well  filled  over  points,  straight  rows  of 
kernels,  and  ripening  in  from  90  to  100  days. 

The  Learning  strain  as  grown  by  Mr.  E.  E.  Chester,  of  Champaign,  Illinois, 
is  from  seed  secured  from  Mr.  J.  S.  Learning  in  1885.  Mr.  Chester  has  selected 
corn.for  seed  from  those  ears  showing  the  first  ripening  of  the  husk  so  as  to  secure 
corn  maturing  in  from  100  to  120  days.  No  crossing  has  been  allowed,  the  corn 
being  planted  in  large  isolated  fields. 

Mr.  James  Riley,  of  Thorntown,  Indiana,  secured  seed  of  the  Learning 
variety  from  Mr.  Chester.  Mr.  Riley  selected  for  a  thick,  strong  stalk,  ears  close 
to  the  ground,  medium  cob,  deep  grain,  and  bright  yellow  kernels. 

Mr.  J.  H.  Coolidge,  Galesburg,  Illinois,  secured  Learning  seed  from  Mr. 
Chester.  Mr.  Coolidge  has  selected  for  a  deep  grain,  long  ear,  well  filled  tip  and 
butt,  uniform  rows  of  kernels  and  early  maturity. 

The  Learning  variety  has  the  most  uniform  characteristics  of  any  variety  of 
yellow  corn  grown.  Its  adaptation  to  widely  different  conditions  of  soil  and 
climate  by  selection  has  done  much  to  strengthen  these  characteristics.  It  is  no 
doubt  the  variety  from  which  many  varieties  of  yellow  corn  have  been  developed, 
as  most  of  the  yellow  varieties  show  some  of  the  characteristics  of  the  Learning 
corn;  and  when  their  history  is  traced  back  they  are  usually  found  to  have  been 
developed  from  the  Learning  seed. 

The  Learning  variety  is  of  medium  maturity  adapted  to  the  central  division 
of  Illinois.  The  three-quarters  of  a  century  of  breeding  has  fixed  the  following 
characteristics  in  this  variety,  and  they  can  be  found  strongly  developed  in  strains 
bred  by  different  corn  breeders,  modified  by  the  breeder  in  his  selection  of  seed. 


igoi.] 


ESTABLISHED    VARIETIES. 


49 


BULLETIN  NO.  63. 


CHARACTERISTICS. 

Ears,  tapering.  2.  Circumference  7  inches,  length  9.3  inches.  3.  Kernels 
firm  on  cob  and  mostly  upright.  4.  Number  of  rows,  16  to  24,  with  tendency  to 
drop  rows  about  the  middle  of  ear.  5.  Space  between  rows,  medium.  6_ 


IQ01.1 


KSTA  I'.l  JSH  F.  1 )    VAI4I ICTIKS. 


Kernels  in  distinct  pairs  of  rows,  mixed  at  tip.  7.  Butt,  moderately  rounded, 
slightly  compressed,  with  tendency  to  expand.  8.  Kernels  yellow,  wedge-shape, 
with  square  cut  summits  and  nearly  straight  edges,  long  dimpled  to  pinched 
dented.  9.  Shank,  medium  to  large.  10.  Cob,  medium,  red. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  HUNOI1 


BULLETIN   NO.  63. 


{March, 


CHARACTERISTICS. 

i.  Ear,  slowly  tapering.  2.  Circumference  7.5  inches,  length,  9.3  inches. 
3.  Kernels  firm  on  cob  and  upright.  4.  Number  of  rows,  16  to  22.  5.  Space 
between  rows,  medium  to  wide.  6.  Kernels  in  distinct  pairs  of  rows,  developing 
distinct  rows  at  tip.  7.  Butt,  moderately  rounded,  slightly  compressed,  enlarged 
or  expanded.  8.  Kernels  white,  broad,  even  at  summit  with  slightly  curved 
edges  and  creased  to  rough  projection  indentation.  9.  Shank,  medium.  10.  Cob, 
medium  to  large,  white. 


igoi.] 


ESTABLISHED   VARIETIES. 


53 


54  BULLKT1N    NO.   63.  {Marc/I, 

BOONE  COUNTY  WHITE. 

HISTORY. 

The  Boone  County  white*  corn  was  originated  by  Mr.  James  Riley,  of 
Thorntown,  Boone  County,  Indiana.  Mr.  Riley  began  selection  from  a  large  coarse 
variety  of  corn  grown  in  Boone  County,  commonly  known  as  the  white  mastodon, 
in  1876.  This  white  mastodon  seed  secured  by  Mr.  Riley  was  planted  in  a  sep- 
arate field  from  other  varieties  and  has  never  been  crossed,  being  changed  in  type 
by  simple  selection.  Mr.  Riley  attempted  to  remove  the~barren  stalks  by  cutting 
out  such  stalks  before  they  produced  pollen.  After  sevefal  years  of  selection  he 
gave  his  new  type  of  corn  a  new  name,  "Boone  County  white."! 

5eed  of  the  Boone  County  white  variety  was  early  secured  by  Mr.  O.  C. 
Black,  of  Champaign  County,' 111.,  and  by  careful  selection  for  about  ten  years, 
the  characteristics  of  shape  of  ear,  kernel  and  cob,  and  the  indentation  of  the 
kernel  have  been  changed.  The  proportion  of  circumference  to  length  has  been 
increased  by  Mr.  Black.  The  indentation  of  kernel  in  the  Black  type  is  deeper 
than  the  Riley  type,  but  the  shape  of  kernel  has  not  been  greatly  changed.  No 
doubt  that  by  continued  selection  along  the  lines  already  laid  down  by  Mr. 
Black  and  other  growers  of  the  Boone  County  white  variety  a  distinct  type  can  be 
produced. 

The  Boone  County  white  variety  is  of  medium  to  late  maturity  adapted  to 
central  and  southern  sections  of  Illinois.  It  has  been  bred  for  large  ears,  and 
consequently  "matures  slowly.  There  is  a  tendency  to  the  production  of  a  poorly 
filled  tip  on  account  of  the  length  of  ear,  which  must  be  overcome  by  careful 
selection. 

As  a  result  of  the  general  desire  among  the  farmers  of  Illinois 
for  a  reliable  source  of  seed  corn,  an  organization  of  seed  corn 
breeders  was  formed  during  a  convention  of  corn  growers  at  the 
University  of  Illinois  in  June,  1900,  for  the  purpose  of  providing 
good  seed  to  the  farmers  direct  from  the  breeders. 

At  a  recent  meeting  of  the  Illinois  Seed  Corn  Breeders'  Asso- 
ciation, a  corn  register  was  begun,  so  that  in  a  few  years  pedigrees 
can  be  furnished  as  in  the  case  of  live  stock  associations. 

The  following  abstracts  from  the  constitution  and  by-laws  of 
this  association  are  given  here  in  order  that  the  Illinois  farmer 
can  see  the  objects  of  this  organization  and  the  rules  under  which 
the  members  produce  and  sell  seed'  corn. 


*The  so-called  white  prolific  variety  has  [doubtless  come  from  the  same  source  as  the 
Boone  County  white,  having  been  bred  by  Mr.  W.  S.  Duncan,  of  Franklin.  Johnson  County, 
Indiana,  and  later  by  by  Mr,.  H.  F.  McMahan,  of  Fairfield,  Indiana. 

tDuring  recent  years  a  larjje  number  of  corn  growers  have  be>run  to  breed  the  Boone 
County  white  varietj',  and  at  present  it  is  grown  very  extensively  over  the  central  and  southern 
sections  of  Illinois.  During  this  wide  distribution  this  corn,  grown  under  different  conditions 
of  soil  and  climate,  has  retained  the  characteristics  imparted  to  it  by  the  long-  course  ot "selec- 
tion by  the  originator.  Its  adaptation  to  extreme  conditions  ot  soil  and  climate  amply  proves 
the  fact  that  our  varieties  of  corn  have  sufficient  power  of  variation  within  themselves  to  per- 
mit of  almost  any  change  or  improvement,  without  crossing  or  the  intermingling  of  varieties. 


IQOI.]  ESTABLISHED    VARIETIES.  55 

CONSTITUTION. 

ARTICLE  i. 

NAME   AND   OBJECT. 

SECTION  i.  The  name  of  this  organization  shall  be  "Illinois  Seed  Corn 
Breeders'  Association." 

SEC.  2.   The  object  of  this  association  shall  be: 

First:     To  establish  distinct  types  and  breeds  of  corn. 

Second:  To  encourage  and  promote  the  growing  of  pure  bred  corn  for  seed 
purposes  throughout  the  State  of  Illinois. 

Third:  To  establish  a  bureau  of  inspection  of  the  product  grown  by  corn 
breeders,  and  furnish  certificates  of  type  and  breed  to  the  grower. 

Fourth:  To  protect  the  farmer  who  shall  desire  to  purchase  pure  bred  seed 
corn  by  furnishing  information  such  as  will  instruct  him  in  distinguishing  the 
breeds  of  corn  and  giving  him  the  names  of  reliable  growers. 

Fifth:  To  aid  in  procuring  such  legislation  or  in  doing  any  other  acts  as 
shall  protect  the  growers  of  pure  bred  seed  corn  in  their  efforts  to  furnish  the 
farmer  with  seed  corn  of  the  breed  desired. 

Sixth:  To  establish  a  score  card  for  each  recognized  standard  variety  of  corn. 
********** 

ARTICLE  7. 

RULES   AND   REGULATIONS. 

RULE  I.  No  member  of  this  association  shall  sell  or  offer  for  sale  any  corn 
for  seed  purposes  except  in  the  ear  only,  unless  otherwise  ordered  by  the  pur- 
chaser. 

RULE  2.  No  member  of  this  association  shall  sell  or  offer  for  sale  any  corn 
for  seed  purposes  other  than  is  grown  by  himself  or  under  his  direction  and  for 
seed  purposes,  and  the  type,  variety  and  quantity  must  be  reported  to  the  secre- 
tary of  the  association  not  later  than  second  Wednesday  in  December  of  each 
year. 

RULE  3.  Each  member  of  this  association  shall  conduct  his  business  of 
corn  breeding  and  selling  of  pure  bred  seed  corn  in  such  manner  only  as  shall  be 
for  the  elevation  of  the  reputation  of  the  association  as  a  means  of  accomplishing 
the  object  for  which  it  was  organized. 

RULE  4.  Each  member  shall  properly  test  the  vitality  of  the  seed  corn  he 
offers  for  sale  and  if  less  than  90  per  cent,  germinates  he  shall  not  offer  it  for 
sale. 

The  present  officers  of  the  Illinois  Seed  Corn  Breeders'  Asso- 
ciation are: 


President, 

J.  H.  COOLIDGE, 

Galesburg-. 
Vice  President, 

E.  R.  CHESTER, 

Champaign. 
Secretary  and  Treasurer, 

F.  A.  WARNER, 

Sibley. 


BULLETIN   NO.   63. 


{March,  igoi- 


VARIETIES 
OF   CORN 
ADAPTED    TO 
ILLINOIS 
CONDITIONS 


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